Lighting switch



Nov. 5, 1929. H. E. NORVIEL LIGHTING SWITCH Filed June 13, 1927 2Sheets-Sheet 1 Nov; 5, 1929. H. E. NORVIEL 1,734,227

LIGHTING SWITCH Y Filed June 13, 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Nov. 5,1929 UNITED STATES PATENT oFFICE HARRY E. NORVIEL, OF ANDER-SON,INDIANA, ASSZGNQR T0 DELCO-REMY CORPORA- TION, OF DAYTON, OHIO, ACORPORATION OF DELAWARE LIGHTING SWITCH Application filed June 13,

This invention relates to electric switches particularly for automobileelectric circuits, and oneof the objectsof the present invention is toreduce the cost of manufacture of switches of this type.

Further objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparentfrom the following description, reference being had to the accompanyingdrawings, wherein ,a preferred embodiment ofone form of the presentinvention is clearly shown.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is' a front elevation of the switch embodying the presentinvention.

Fig. 2 is a rear view thereof. I

Fig. 3 is a sectional view on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1. I

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary sectional View on the line 4-4 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is side elevation .of the switch handle.

Fig. .6 is an elevation of the main plate of the switch, constituting aswitch mounting element and asupport for other parts of the switch. Thisview is taken in the direction of the arrow ,6 in Fig. .3.

Fig. 7 is a :sectional view on the line 77 of Fig. 6.

Figs. .8 and 9 are sectional views taken respectively on lines 8-8 and9-9 of Fig. .3.

The main supporting member of the switch is the bracket 20 shown indetail in Figs. 6 and 7. The bracket 20 is formed to provide .a recess21 defined by a wall 22 spaced from the main wall or plate 23 of thebracket and parallel thereto, and by a lateral wall 24 which variesinits relation with the walls 22 and 23 from a perpendicular relation toan oblique relation as clearly shown in Figs. 57 and 3. The wall 22 isprovided with a circular opening 25, the circular edge of which isinterrupted by a notch 26 defined by the arcuate edge 26 and the radialedges 26 and 26. The wall 22 is provided with a circular row of openings27 which are concentric with respect to the opening 25. The wall 22 isprovided with a group of openings '28 which are symmetrical to thevertical center line of the hole 25,. The main plate 23 is provided withan opening .30 on the vertical center line of the 1927. Serial No.198,330.

opening 25. The upper and lower ends of the main plate 23 terminatein'hooks .31 which are adapted to fit around angle bars .32 as shown inFig. 3. The bars 32 are located at the rear of an instrument board 33and are spaced therefrom to receive the main plate 23 The bracket 20supports a dial plate of elliptical contour having an inwardlyextend ingelliptical flange 41 which bears against the main plate 23 of thebracket 20. The .dial plate 40 is retained in position by a bezel plate42 having an elliptical head 43 engaging the elliptical flange 41 ofthedial plate 40. The

elliptical bead 43 surrounds an elliptical opening exposing the frontface of the .dial plate 40, and this head is received by an elelipticalhole in the instrument board .33. The bezel plate 42 includes a flatportion .or flange 44 which bears against the' main plate 23 .of thebracket 20, and which is secured thereto by cars 45 bent at right anglesto the flange 44 and into notches 46 provided by the plate 23, and thenbent over against the rearside of the plate 23 as shown in Fig. 2.

When the bracket20,.dial plate40 and bezel plate 42 are assembled, anaperture .50 provided by the dial plate 40 will belocated in alignmentwith the aperture 25 of the plate 22 of the bracket 20. The circularedge surrounding the aperture .50 provides a bearing for rotativelysupporting the hub 51 of the handle 52. The handle 52,.as shown in Figs.5 and 8, is provided with inwardly projecting tangs-53 which arereceived by notches 54 in a non-conducting block 55 having a journalportion 56 which is supported by the circular edge surrounding theopening 25 in {the plate 22. In this way, the block 55 and the handle 52are rotatably supported in assembled relation by the plates 22 and 40.Removal of the handle 52 is prevented by segmental fianges 57, 58 and5.9 which extend from it between the block 55 and the plate 40.

Rivets 6O secure to the block 55 the hub .61 of a movable contact fromwhich extend a number of resilient fingers 62 each having a sphericalboss 63 each adapted to be received by recess in the inner end of thetubular contact rivet 64. A number of these contact rivets are supportedby non-conducting block or switch back which is supported by and whichcloses a cylindrical switch case 66. The switch case 66 is attached tothe plate 22 by a plurality of tangs 67 extending from the case into theapertures 27 respectively and bent over against the inside of the plate22 as shown in Fig. 3. The case 66 is attached to the back 65 byproviding it with a plurality of tangs 68 extending into notches 69provided by the back 65. Each tang 68 is bent over at 70 against theoutside of the back 65. Each contact rivet 64 is provided with athreaded aperture for receiving a terminal screw. Suitable indiciacarried by the back 65 indicates the connection of a switch contact withvarious circuits of the automobile.

As indicated in Fig. 1 the switch handle may be placed in fourpositions, namely: On, Dim, Oif and Park; and the handle is resilientlymaintained in each of these positions by providing the block 55 withfour notches 71 each adapted to be engaged by a ball 72 guided by abracket 7 3 of channelshaped cross section as shown in Fig. 9. Thebracket 73 is provided with tangs 74 which are received by holes 28 inthe plate 22 shown in Fig. 6. The tangs 74 are inserted through theholes 28 and are bent over against the outside of the plate 22. A.spring 75 located within the bracket 7 3 bears at one end against thelateral wall 24 of the bracket 20 and at the other end against the ball72 in order to urge t-heball toward the block 55. Rotation of the handle52 in either direction is limited by a lug provided by the block 55 andreceived by the notch 26 of the plate 22, engaging the radial edges 26or 26.

The dial plate 40 supports a choke red tube which extends through thehole 30 in the plate 23 of the bracket 20.

The present invention provides a construction by which the frame workand casing members of the switch and the switch handle may be formed ofsheet metal and thus manufactured very economically. Only two parts ofmoldable insulating material are required, namely the block 55 and theswitch back 65.

In assembling, the cylindrical case 66 is formed of flat sheet metalbent into cylindrical form with the edges abutting with line 81. Thispart is held in cylindrical. form by attaching it to the plate 22 of thebracket 20 in the manner already described namely by means of the tangs67 which enter the holes 27 and are bent over against the inside of theplate 22. Then the bracket 73 shown in Fig. 9 is assembled with thebracket 20. Afterwards the spring 75 and the ball 72 are placed withinthe bracket 73 and the journal part 56 of the block 55 is inserted inthe opening 25 of the plate 22. Then the con tact spider including thecontact arm 62 is attached by the rivet 60. This operation completes aunitary sub-assembly which comprises the mounting bracket 20, themovable switch contact element, its non-conducting support 55, and themeans for yieldingly holding the support in various positions ofrotation.

After this sub-assembly has been completed a handle 52 is insertedthrough the opening 50 in the dial plate 40 so that the segmentalflanges 57, 58 and 59 of the handle bear against the inside of the dialplate. The free endof the choke rod tube 90 is inserted in the hole 30and the dial plate 40 and handle 52 are moved toward the bracket 20.There is suflicient play between the hole 30 and the choke rod tube 90to permit inserting of the tangs 53 of the handle into the notches 54 ofthe block 55. After this has been done the dial 40 is secured to thebracket 20 by the bezel plate 12. This completes an assembly comprisingthe switch case, movable contact, contact lever and contact indexingratchet.

The switch back 65 carrying the contacts and terminal members is thensecured to the switch case 66 by bending the tangs 68 thereof into thenotches 69 and the ends of the tangs against the outside of the switchback as indicated by numeral 70.

While the form of embodiment of the present invention as hereindisclosed, constitutes a preferred form, it is to be understood thatother forms might be adopted, all coming within the scope of the claimswhich follow.

What is claimed is as follows:

1. An electric switch comprising, in combination, a mounting bracket anda dial plate secured together by a bezel plate, said mounting bracketand dial plate having spaced walls, a switch case attached to said wallof the mounting bracket, a cover carrying terminals and stationarycontacts attached to the case, movable contacts within the case, ahandle located in front of the dial plate, means extending from thehandle and across the space between said dial plate and bracket wallsand within the switch case to support the movable contacts, and a handleindexing ratchet device associated with said means and. located betweensaid walls of the dial plate and bracket.

2. An electric switch according to claim 1, in which the handle isconnected with the movable contacts by a block located between saidspaced walls of the dial plate and bracket and rotatably supportedthereby, and in which said block has a peripherally notched portionbetween said walls and a spring urged. member cooperates with saidnotched portion to provide the handle indexing ratchet device.

3. An electric switch according to claim 1, in which .the handle isconnected with the movable contact by a block located between saidspaced walls of the dial plate and bracket, the handle being journalledwithin an opening in the dial plate wall and the block within an openingin the bracket wall, the

handle and block being drivingly connected between said walls, and theblock having a portion extending into the switch case to support thereinthe movable contact.

4. An electric switch comprising a contact case having a tubular partjoined to a flat plate, a second plate exterior to the case and joinedto the first plate but spaced therefrom, a manually operated contactactuator, rotatably supported by the plates and journallet in alignedapertures in the same and comprising a controller member secured to anon conducting means extending across the space between the plates, amovable contact supported by the actuator within the case, and a coverfor the case supporting stationary contacts.

5. A switch according to claim 4 having a contact indexing ratchetdevice associated with the contact actuator and located between saidplates.

6. A switch according to claim 4 in which the contact actuator includesa handle exterior to the second mentioned plate and havc ing a hubjournalled in the second mentioned plate and a contact carrier having ahub journalled in the flat plate and connected with the handle betweenthe plates.

7. A switch according to claim 4 in which the contact actuator includesa handle exterior to the second mentioned plate and having a hubonrnalled in the second mentioned plate and a contact carrier having ahub journalled in the fiat plate and connected with the handle betweenthe plates and in which the handle is provided with an outwardlyextending flange abutting the inside wall of the second mentioned plateto prevent removal of the handle, and in which the handle is connectedwith the contact carrier by tangs extending axially from the hub of thehandle and engaging notches in the contact carrier.

8. A switch according to claim 4: in which the contact actuator includesa handle exterior to the second mentioned plate and having a hubjournalled in the second mentioned plate and a contact carrier having ahub ournalled in the flat plate and connected with the handle betweenthe plates, and in which the handle and carrier are drivingly connectedby means requiring axial movement of one relative to the other, and inwhich the handle and carrier are each provided with means preventingaxial displacement of either relative to said plates.

9. An electric switch comprising a contact ease having a tubular partjoined to a flat plate, a second plate exterior to the case and joinedto the first plate but spaced therefrom, the two plates having alignedapertures, a handle exterior to the second plate and having a hubournalled in the aperture therein and having a flange abutting theinside of the second plate and having tangs extending axially toward thefirst plate, a contact carrier located between the plates and having ahub journalled in the aperture of the first plate and extending into theswitch case and having notches for receiving said tangs of the handle, amovable contact insulatingly supported by the carrier within the case, acover for the ease supporting stationary contacts and a handle indexingratchet device located between the plates and comprising guide attachedto one of the plates and inclosing a plunger which is spring urged intonotches provided by the contact carrier.

10. An electric switch comprising, in combination, a mounting bracketand a dial plate secured together by a bezel plate, said mountingbracket and dial plate, having spaced walls, a switch case attached tosaid wall of the mounting bracket, a cover carrying terminals andstationary contacts attached to the case, movable contacts within thecase, a handle located in front of the dial plate, means extending fromthe handle and across the space between said dial plate and bracketwalls and within the switch case to support the movable contacts,ratchet and detent provisions for said handle located between said wallsof the dial plate and bracket, one of said provisions being drivinglyengaged by said means, while the other of said provisions is fixedrelative thereto.

11. An electric switch comprising, in combination, a mounting bracketand a dial plate secured together by a bezel plate, said mountingbracket and dial plate having spaced walls, a switch case attached tosaid wall of the mounting bracket, a cover carrying terminals andstationary contacts attached to the case, movable contacts within thecase, a handle located in front of the dial plate, means extending fromthe handle and across the space between said dial plate and bracketWalls and within the switch case to support the movable contacts,ratchet and detent provisions for said handle located between said wallsof the dial plate and bracket, one of said provisions being mounted onsaid means to rotate therewith, while the other of said provisions isfixed to one of the enclosing walls.

In testimony whereof I hereto afiix my signature.

HARRY E. NORVIEL.

